26; 



improve the inland navigation of the country, and t-o open a com- 

 munication, by canals, with thofe parts of Ireland, (and there arc 

 many) which produce coals, fo neceffary to the profperity of the 

 glafs manufacture. 



In this curfory notice of mechanical arts, wherein fire is the chief 

 agent, it may be proper to glance at breweries and diftilleries, Thefc 

 are manufaftures, which require large fpaces of ground, and the erec 

 tion of various expenfive buildings, when they are carried on exten- 

 fively; and confume great quantities of fuel. Of courfe, this country, 

 fi-om its want of fuel, labours under peculiar difadvantages. To thefc 

 we muft add an obflaclc, more powerful, than both the- former united, 

 a fevere and oppreffive code of revenue laws. This is the more to 

 be lamented, as the fertility of foil, in this country, affords a fuperflu- 

 ity of grain, after feeding the inhabitants; and the fituation of the 

 country, watered, as it every where is, by ftreams and rivers, is fa- 

 vourable to the eftablifliments of breweries and diftilleries. The em- 

 ployment of capital, in thefe branches of induftry, deferves particular 

 encouragement, both, as they contribute to the advancement of agri- 

 culture, by affording a ready market, and conftant demand, for grain ; 

 and as they defray a confiderable part of the national expences, by a 

 heavy excife. Prodigious fums of money are yearly drawn out of this 

 kingdom, for porter, and other malt liquors; moft, if not the whole 

 of which, might be retained in it, were the breweries of Inland 

 properly regulated and encouraged.* As for the diftilleries;-! am far 

 from being an advocate of drunkennefs ; I am far from wifliing, to 

 remove the reftraints and difcouragements, from thofe who fell fpirits, 

 by retail ; at the fame time, I cannot join in the cry, of thofe de- 

 claimers on fobriety, who would willingly annihilate the diftilleries of 

 the country. Such people are unable, or unwilling, to examine the 

 ftate of Ireland, and acquire a knowledge of its true interefts. It is 

 to be obferved, that the diftillers of Ireland have acquired confum- 



( L ^ 2 ) mate 



• Since this Traa was firft written, the cafe has altered materially, in favour of this 

 country ; and porter, and home-made fpirits of malt are become an objeft of exportation 



